Posted on 12/25/2010 4:11:17 PM PST by LouAvul
I love winter. Today I worked in my yard, 33 degrees, overcast, no wind. It was great.
I figure I've got maybe 15 more winters to enjoy, if I'm lucky. That's what I was thinking about.
Anyway, it reminded me of this story:
One Saturday morning, I turned the dial on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap meet. Along the way, I came across an older-sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. He sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business, I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say.
"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital." He continued, "Let me tell you something, Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities. You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3,900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in detail," he went on, "and by that time, realized that if I lived to be seventy-five, only had about a thousand Saturdays left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores before I rounded up one thousand marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large clear, plastic container right here next to my gear. Every Saturday, since then, I have taken one marble and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight. Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign off and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday, then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can use is a little more time."
You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna this morning, and then I was going to meet with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. “Come on, honey, I'm taking you and the kids breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked. Oh, nothing special, it’s just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Key, can we stop by a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."
Thanks. Merry Christmas Kyrie.
I decided that guys live about 75 years so.... I figured It would take me 25 years to grow-up and get educated (it did), I would work for 25 years(I did) and be retired for 25 years(I am).
I am 67 years old and retired at the age of 50 and so, I figure I have about eight more years left.
Merry Christmas.
Your story is inspiring to me. I can’t help but think of all the healthy people who don’t appreciate every minute on this earth and suddenly pass. Its too late for them to say “STOP! I need time to enjoy life”.
Sounds like the guy lost his marbles.
I’m with you. God can take me home any time.
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